Crime in Japan

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This article is written like a personal reflection or essay and may require cleanup. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (December 2007)Crime in Japan is lower than in many other first world countries. While crime is still infrequent, the past decade has seen increasing crime.[1] There are controversies regarding crimes committed by non-ethnic Japanese people and misconduct by police in reporting crime statistics.



History

Main article: Criminal punishment in Edo-period Japan


Yakuza

Main article: Yakuza
The yakuza had existed in Japan well before the 1800s and followed codes similar to the bushido of the samurai. Their early operations were usually close-knit, and the leader and gang members had father-son relationships. Although this traditional arrangement continues to exist, yakuza activities are increasingly replaced by modern types of gangs that depend on force and money as organizing concepts. Nonetheless, yakuza often picture themselves as saviors of traditional Japanese virtues in a postwar society, sometimes forming ties with right-wing groups espousing the same views and attracting dissatisfied youths to their ranks.
Yakuza groups in 1990 were estimated to number more than 3,300 and together contained more than 88,000 members. Although concentrated in the largest urban prefectures, yakuza operate in most cities and often receive protection from highranking officials. After concerted police pressure in the 1960s, smaller gangs either disappeared or began to consolidate in syndicate-type organizations. In 1990, three large syndicates (Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, Ichiwa-kai) dominated organized crime in the nation and controlled more than 1,600 gangs and 42,000 gangsters. Their number have since swelled and shrunk, often coinciding with economic conditions.


Definitions



The National Police Agency divides crime into six main categories:[citation needed]

• Felonies—the most serious and carrying the stiffest penalties—includes murder and conspiracy to murder, robbery, rape, and arson.
• Violent offenses consist of unlawful assembly while possessing a dangerous weapon, simple and aggravated assault, extortion, and intimidation.
• Larceny encompasses burglary, vehicle theft, and shoplifting.
• Crimes classified as intellectual include fraud, embezzlement, counterfeiting, forgery, bribery, and breach of position of trust.
• Moral offenses include gambling, indecent exposure, and the distribution of obscene literature.
• Miscellaneous offenses frequently involve the obstruction of official duties, negligence with fire, unauthorized entry, negligent homicide or injury (often in traffic accidents), possession of stolen property, and destruction of property. Special laws define other criminal offenses, among them prostitution, illegal possession of swords and firearms, customs violations, and possession of controlled substances, including narcotics and marijuana.

Statistics

In 1990 the police identified over 2.2 million Penal Code violations[citation needed]. Two types of violations—larceny (65.1 percent of total violations[citation needed]) and negligent homicide or injury as a result of accidents (26.2%)—accounted for over 90 percent of criminal offenses in Japan[citation needed]. In 1989 Japan experienced 1.3 robberies per 100,000 population, compared with 48.6 for West Germany, 65.8 for Great Britain, and 233.0 for the United States; and it experienced 1.1 murder per 100,000 population, compared with 3.9 for West Germany, 1.03 for England and Wales, and 8.7 for the United States that same year[citation needed]. Japanese authorities also solve a high percentage of robbery cases (75.9%, compared with 43.8% for West Germany, 26.5% for Britain, and 26.0% for the United States) and homicide cases (95.9% , compared with 94.4% for Germany, 78.0% for Britain, and 68.3% for the United States)[citation needed]. This is connected to the fact that prosecutions are less likely to be successfully challenged compared to the above mentioned countries, a fact that has caused human rights concerns and has led to a change in the law which will take effect in 2009[citation needed].


Social factors


This article is written like a personal reflection or essay and may require cleanup. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (December 2007)According to Ruth Benedict's shame culture/guilt culture analysis, an important factor keeping crime low is the traditional emphasis on the individual as a member of groups to which he or she must not bring shame. Within these groups—family, friends, and associates at work or school—a Japanese citizen has social rights and obligations, may derive emotional support, and meets powerful expectations to conform. These informal social sanctions display potency despite competing values in a changing society.


Legal deterrents

Ownership of handguns is forbidden to the public, hunting rifles and ceremonial swords are registered with the police, and the manufacture and sale of firearms are regulated. The production and sale of live and blank ammunition are also controlled, as are the transportation and importation of all weapons. Crimes are seldom committed with firearms, yet knives remain a problem that the government is looking into, especially after the Akihabara massacre.
Crimes

Of particular concern to the police are crimes associated with modernization. Increased wealth and technological sophistication has brought new white collar crimes, such as computer and credit card fraud, larceny involving coin dispensers, and insurance fraud. Incidence of drug abuse is minuscule, compared with other industrialized nations and limited mainly to stimulants. Japanese law enforcement authorities endeavor to control this problem by extensive coordination with international investigative organizations and stringent punishment of Japanese and foreign offenders. Traffic accidents and fatalities consume substantial law enforcement resources.


Crimes by non-Japanese

See also: Ethnic issues in Japan
Although the total number of crimes by non-Japanese is substantially lower than those by Japanese, the public perception is that the influx of immigrants has led to the crime increase.[2] A large portion of crimes by immigrants are by Chinese in Japan, and some highly publicized crimes by organized groups of Chinese (often with help of Japanese organized crime) have led to a negative public perception.[3] News media often report a crime was committed by Chinese even when the fact is not known.[2]
See also

• Criminal justice system of Japan
• List of major crimes in Japan
• Chikan
• Yakuza

References

1. ^ Fackler, Martin (April 19, 2007). "Low-Crime Japan Seeks Answers to Killing of Mayor of Nagasaki". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/19/world/asia/19japan.html. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
2. ^ ab French, Howard W. (September 30, 1999). "Disdainful of Foreigners, the Japanese Blame Them for Crime". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/30/w...igners-the-japanese-blame-them-for-crime.html. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
3. ^ Wudunn, Sheryl (March 12, 1997). "Japan Worries About a Trend: Crime by Chinese". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/12/world/japan-worries-about-a-trend-crime-by-chinese.html. Retrieved April 30, 2010.

• This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Library of Congress Country Studies. - Japan

External links

• National Police Agency of Japan
• Japan Black Markets

 

A year ago next May, we suffered a major natural disaster in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, a flood of unprecedented size hit the area after we received 14 inches of rain in 12 hours. Entire communities and neighborhoods were flooded, thousands of homes and businesses were inundated.

We had no looting, no spike in crime, just thousands of folks turning out to help those who were in need. The percentage of African Americans in the area is over 18%, some neighborhoods over 80%.

One major difference between Katrina and the Nashville floods, the state and local authorities did what they needed to do immediately, the police and fire departments did not cut and run, as they did in New Orleans. Mississippi did not have the problems that NO had, I think it was because the local and state authorities stood their ground, helping others selflessly.

The Japanese people are to be commended, they have suffered a totally unimaginable tragedy, yet they are doing what they need to do to survive and to help their neighbors.

 

poor people

crimes of property theft and violence are usually committed by the poor that why most of the criminal scum where i live are white like me

 

When I use the noun "Oriental" I am thinking primarily of Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese. On occasion some of them have done bad things at the behest of bad governments. Nevertheless, they have created fascinating civilizations. As immigrants to the United States they have low crime rates, and high average IQs, even when poor.

In the United States Orientals have been called "the ideal minority" with justification.

There are good people and intelligent people in all racial groups, but the percentages vary.

 

15.7% of Japanese are below the poverty line.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html

In the United States the percentage is 12%.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

Poor Japanese still do not riot.

 

In honer of my friend Fu, "Orientals" are Rugs. Asian people aren't rugs.

 

Asian people are not all Orientals. Indians, and Arabs are considered to be Caucasians.

 

I love how when you post visual evidence, people are just like ERR YOUR RACIST AND DUMB and completely pretend like its not happening, well here it is again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RVHDlPqZWE

Look at the police officers looting, on camera, in their uniforms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RVHDlPqZWE

 

Hurricane Katrina Usa bad Cops Robing in Wal-Mart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un0PX0-nyIE&feature=related

 

Why would bring the subject of race into this ASSHOLE in the first place, when the subject wasn't even about race.

 

nice point but i was challenging his claim that within a nation theft and looting are race related

 

Poverty is not a justification for crime. It is not an explanation.

 

i agree the social structure in japan dose not lead to the looting we see els where but never the less crimes of property theft are in the mane committed by the poor in both the USA ans UK

and if the poor people are black the thieves are black if they are white then the thieves are white

 

I, for one, find it very amusing that the prevailing reaction of Americans to Japanese culture is: "Where's all the looting?"

It says a lot more about American culture than it does about Japanese culture.

 

And you didn't even mention the Rape of Nanking. Every race is capable of ghastly crimes against humanity. I would think the history of the 20th century would provide sufficient examples to satisfy anyone.

 

but true

 

Perhaps it is more of a statement of how we view American culture. There are countless tragedies, that have fallen within our shores, that did not have rioting and looting as a sideshow attraction.

 

Prejudice is often based on experience. My beliefs and attitudes about various racial groups are based on experience, listening to others talk about their experiences, and reading.

I have known many Orientals. I have lived in an Oriental neighborhood. I have never had bad experiences with Oriental people. I have never felt in danger when surrounded by young Oriental men, even when I knew that they were poor.

 

The cruelty of the Japanese Army during the Second World War was out of character for the Japanese people. It was even out of character for the Japanese Army in previous wars.

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Unlike many other major powers, Japan had not signed the Geneva Convention (1929)—also known as The Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Geneva July 27, 1929—which was the version of the Geneva Convention that covered the treatment of prisoners of war during World War II.[19] Nevertheless, an Imperial Proclamation (1894) stated that Japanese soldiers should make every effort to win the war without violating international law. According to historian Yuki Tanaka, Japanese forces during the First Sino-Japanese War, released 1,790 Chinese prisoners without harm, once they signed an agreement not to take up arms against Japan again.[20] After the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05), all 79,367 Russian Empire prisoners were released, and were paid for labour performed, in accordance with the Hague Convention.[20] Similarly the behaviour of the Japanese military in World War I (1914–18) was at least as humane as that of other militaries,[citation needed] with some German POWs of the Japanese finding life in Japan so agreeable that they stayed and settled in Japan after the war.[21][22]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_War_Atrocities

 

addendum

While living in that neighborhood, I often worked late and would walk home after 10:00 pm, sometimes wearing a suit. I was never robbed. I never felt I needed to stay on busy streets on the way home.